LAHORE: Punjab Energy Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar was briefed on proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) pilot projects for three major industrial areas of Punjab and directed officials to identify suitable land for solarisation in Rahim Yar Khan, Vehari and Quaid-e-Azam Business Park.
The briefing took place during a meeting chaired by the minister in Lahore on Thursday, where officials presented technical details of the proposed projects, including solar energy integration, battery storage capacity and measures to improve the quality and reliability of electricity supplied to industries.
The minister directed the relevant authorities to coordinate with the Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC) to identify suitable sites for solarisation in the three industrial areas and develop a comprehensive strategy for implementing the proposed projects.
Energy Secretary Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti and other relevant officials attended the meeting.
The proposed pilot projects aim to assess how solar energy and battery storage systems could help stabilise industrial electricity supplies, reduce production costs and improve energy efficiency.
Khokhar emphasised that providing affordable, quality and reliable electricity to industries remained among the Punjab government’s foremost priorities.
He said the industrial sector played an important role in strengthening the national economy, creating employment opportunities and supporting economic growth, making reliable energy infrastructure essential for industrial development.
The minister also stressed the need to improve power quality, optimise available energy resources and develop practical solutions suited to the requirements of industrial consumers.
Officials brief minister on proposed battery backup model
CEO QASPL Muhammad Badr-ul-Munir briefed the meeting on the proposed energy model, which envisages up to four hours of backup electricity through battery energy storage systems.
Under the proposed arrangement, industrial areas would receive 12 hours of off-grid electricity and 12 hours of power from the national grid.
The meeting examined the technical requirements of the proposed system, electricity supply arrangements and the potential integration of solar energy with battery storage.
Officials discussed how the combination of solarisation and BESS could improve electricity stability and help industrial units make more efficient use of alternative energy sources.
Khokhar said the effective integration of battery storage with solar power could contribute to a more stable electricity supply while improving power quality for industries.
Technical report prepared for proposed pilot projects
PFAS Ahmad Qazi informed the meeting that a technical team, working in collaboration with PIEDMC, had prepared a comprehensive report on the proposed battery energy storage system.
The report examined technical considerations and potential applications of battery storage technology in Rahim Yar Khan, Vehari and Quaid-e-Azam Business Park.
Officials reviewed the findings and discussed the requirements for assessing the proposed pilot projects under industrial operating conditions.
The minister directed the departments concerned to maintain close coordination with PIEDMC and prepare a practical implementation strategy based on the technical requirements and energy needs of the identified industrial areas.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of extending battery storage solutions to other industrial estates across Punjab, depending on the results of the proposed pilot projects.
The initiative remains at the proposal and technical assessment stage, with the pilot projects intended to evaluate the effectiveness of solar energy and battery storage systems before any wider expansion is considered.